The Last Supper: Where Will We Sit?

Located within the busy city of Milan, Italy, sits the unassuming Church of Holy Mary of Grace (Chiesa di Santa Maria delle Grazie).  At first glance, it seems casually placed, another church in the city of churches, the most famous of which is the impressive Duomo Cathedral with its 135 spires that reach up toward heaven.  But this simple church holds a significant painting that covers an end wall in its dining room.  Imagine dining three times a day within sight of Leonardo da Vinci's magnificent 15th-Century mural, The Last Supper.  Well, that's exactly what the brethren did after it claimed its space of 180 inches by 350 inches (15 feet x 29 feet) inside their dining room.

We traveled to Milan last summer with the hopes of seeing this painting...our one goal.   Tickets had to be purchased up to three months in advance.  We took a chance.  We were blessed. One tour company had two empty seats.  Before viewing the painting, we were placed in a small group of 25. We were moved into a humidity-controlled chamber which was connected to the climate-controlled environment that hosted the mural.  Once inside the dining room, there, the Last Supper invited us to partake of its holy significance.  No cameras clicking, no voices, only quiet wonder for only 15 minutes.  Everyone wanted to remember everything.

The Last Supper portrays the different reactions of the disciples as Jesus, in the center, tells His disciples that one of them will betray Him.  Leonardo da Vinci places the disciples in groups of three and shows on their faces their confused hearts.

Believers know the story.  Judas' hand clutches the money bag. He betrays Jesus.  In only a few days after the story we see in this painting, Jesus is betrayed, arrested, judged, and crucified.

There is beauty inside this painting as Jesus gives thanks and offers bread, which is the most basic necessity of daily nourishment and which is symbolic of His body offered up for us on the Cross.  Jesus offers the cup, which signifies the spilled blood during His suffering but points to the lifeblood of New Life offered through His resurrection.

Here is the Easter message: a verse, like the Santa Maria delle Grazi, easy to miss, unassuming and so simple that we almost overlooked it.  Matthew 26:29, written in red, "I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father's kingdom."  
 One day, believers will sit at the good table with Jesus, and we will partake with Him a meal that celebrates the holy event that took place only a few days after His Last Supper, His resurrection. 

By the way, during World War II, in August 1943, this church was struck by bombs and almost destroyed.  However, a protective structure had been built and placed against da Vinci's mural, protecting and preserving this one wall for us in August 2013. 

Jesus' death and resurrection is our protective structure.  His Easter message asks us all, "Will you sit with Me at the good table in My new kingdom?"

Blessings to you during this most Holy Week.

By the way, keep looking up!  And, thank you for following our blog!
J:m and L:nda

The Waiting Place

"The Waiting Place...for people just waiting.  Waiting for the train to go or a bus to come, or a plane to go or the mail to come or the rain to go or the phone to ring...waiting around for a Yes or No." 

We are waiting. We anticipate a change...soon.

Anticipation seems to carry a "pleasurable expectation."  It's the months before our children are born. It's those eager days before that long-planned vacation.  It's a promise kept, a trust coming to fruition, and a feeling of excitement.  Everyone on earth has experienced anticipation, regardless of race or nationality.  We believe this because we saw anticipation in Ecuador when a child lifted an empty bowl to meet a full ladle. Or, when a tribe met a missionary pilot's plane that had landed in the Amazon jungle.  We have seen eager students who stood at the door of  education in Romania and villagers who met their pastor's canoe on the banks of the Amazon in Peru.  We have seen families push past big, wooden church doors and spill onto benches in Albania to hear God's word.  We have seen women gather in Australia for home Bible studies.  We have seen the Jesus Film projected onto bed sheets suspended from poles in Belize.  We have seen the gospel proclaimed through drama in a Warsaw city square.  We have seen churches being built where languages will proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ.

If you are a follower of our blog , then you already know that Mission Corps is our second career.
Each year, we have the opportunity to stand beside and serve missionaries who have been called and who are actively involved in sharing Christ with many language groups. And, they have seen, too!  We are presently waiting for our next Mission Corps assignment.
       We never know
           the Places We'll Go

We are waiting, but we call "it mending our nets." We have been fishing in many parts of the world, and now we wait because we know we will cast off soon. By the way, all believers have nets.

"He (Jesus) saw at the water's edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets."
(Luke 5:2) NIV
"He (Jesus) noticed two boats tied up. The fishermen had just left them and were out scrubbing their nets."
(Luke 5:2)  The Message


Keep Looking Up!  And, we will keep you posted!
J:m and L:inda